God's Design for Women

Pope John Paul II stated in his Letter to Women that "womanhood and manhood are complementary... it is only through the duality of the 'masculine' and 'feminine' that the 'human' finds full realisation." This is very clearly evident, also, in Genesis 1:27 where it states, "God created mankind in his image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them." We can see here that right from the very beginning, God created male and female as two beautiful expressions of humanity in His own image and likeness, both made equal in their worth, value, and dignity!

Through the genius in which God created us as male and female, in our very beings, and in our complementary uniqueness, we help each other to fully understand what it means to truly be human. And today we will be exploring how God's beautiful design of womanhood, allows us to live this out...

The Creation of Woman

Pope John Paul II writes, "The creation of woman is thus marked from the outset by the principle of help: a help which is not one-sided but mutual." The help he is referring to here is found in Genesis 2:18, one of the first signs of God's plan for the creation of woman, where it is stated, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." The utilisation of the term 'helper' is a controversial, and heavily discussed aspect of this verse, as a misconception has arisen regarding the meaning of the word within this context. However, he goes on to oppose this controversy by telling us, "That woman is presented as a 'helper fit for him' (Gn 2: 18) should not be interpreted as meaning that woman is man's servant - 'helper' is not the equivalent of 'servant'... rather the whole statement means that woman is able to collaborate with man because she complements him perfectly." and "Womanhood expresses the 'human' as much as manhood does, but in a different and complementary way. When the Book of Genesis speaks of 'help', it is not referring merely to acting, but also to being. Womanhood and manhood are complementary not only from the physical and psychological points of view, but also from the ontological. It is only through the duality of the 'masculine' and the 'feminine' that the 'human' finds full realisation."

Matthew Henry in his 'Commentary on the Whole Bible' elaborates on this point beautifully, telling us that, "The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved."

The Feminine Genius

The essence of God's design for women is often referred to as the 'feminine genius'. Sister Prudence Allen defines this phrase as, "a way of being, acting and loving in the world, which manifests a unique creativity in human relationships. Women’s acts of genius reveal a particular feminine sensitivity toward other human beings." This genius in which God created women is timeless, and unchanging, unlike the secular definition of femininity, which is constantly changing. So instead of looking to secular culture to tell us what it means to be a woman, women must turn to the unchanging Word of God, to truly understand who they are at their very core, and who God created them to be. It's not about gained intellectual knowledge or practical skills, but about relationships and the unique way in which women approach them; women's actions show their unique understanding of people which God has gifted them with.

"Perhaps more than men, women acknowledge the person, because they see persons with their hearts. They see them independently of various ideological or political systems. They see others in their greatness and limitations; they try to go out to them and help them." (Pope John Paul II) Women possess a person-oriented disposition, which allows them to relate to others, in a unique feminine way, and if women learn to live from this disposition, they can bring the glory of God into the world through their everyday actions.

A part of God's design for women is the gifts He has bestowed upon them, such as receptivity, intuition, generosity, fidelity, self-giving, sensitivity, maternity, and strength, each of which are expressed in different ways by different women. Many of these womanly gifts branch from a woman's ability to see and understand the needs of others, which is one of the many reasons why the feminine genius was called, "vitally essential to both society and the church." Pope John Paul II rightfully expressed his concern of humanity's loss of sensitivity towards the needs of others, and increase of sensitivity towards the selfish desires of oneself, which is why he proclaimed, "Our time in particular awaits the manifestation of that 'genius' which belongs to women, and which can ensure sensitivity for human beings in every circumstance: because they are human!"

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Moreover, we must recognise God's unique, beautiful design of women, and the gifts of their propensity to recognise the needs of others, their tendency to see humans as humans, and their response to their humanity, of which He has bestowed upon women. The feminine genius in which God created women is vitally essential, in hand with the genius in which He created men, for both society and the church as a whole.